Wednesday, April 30, 2014

GLENDALE'S BRAND AVENUE

BUILDING A GREAT MUSEUM FOR THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

BRAND AVENUE –
GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA

by Monica Corpuz - Graduate Student CSUN

Glendale’s Brand Boulevard is a main hub of
activity today, with a wide selection of shops, restaurants, businesses and
cultural landmarks. The street is named after Leslie Coombs Brand (1859-1925),
who helped to develop Glendale by helping to build and facilitate
transportation and real estate in the city.

Glendale officially became a town in 1887 when
it comprised only about 150 acres worth of land. In the early 1900’s Edgar D.
Goode and D.W. Hunt also helped to develop Glendale by bringing the railroad
through the city. Both of these men also have streets named after them, and
they’re all by Brand Boulevard. Finally, Glendale became a city in 1906, and
due partly to the glamorous and popular Alex Theater, which is located on the
street, Brand Boulevard quickly became an important part of the city.

It
wasn’t until a surge of immigrants in the 80’s and 90’s that really diversified
Brand Boulevard. Different types of cuisine and shops popped up which only
increased the street’s popularity. Today it is a central hub of Glendale. It is
located close to the Glendale Galleria, the Americana, art galleries and large
corporate headquarters. Shopping, dining, looking at art and then catching a
show at the Alex- what a great way to spend a day in Glendale!